Fire-engine



P. E. SMITH.

FIRE ENGINE.

APPLICATlON FILED FEB. 7. 1920.

1,351,700. Pat nted Aug- 31, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J'ww NH) D)? EZSmz'Z/k gmmm ilfiinass es after u u;

P. E. SMITH.

FIRE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. z, 1920.

Patented Aug- 31,1920;

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

gnuen-fo p ilCz'inesses names stares PAUL E. SMITH, or HENRIETTA, TEXAS.

FIRE-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 31, 1e26,.

Application filed February 7, 1920. Serial No. 356,953.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, PAUL E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residin at Henrietta, in the county of Clay and tate of Texas have invented new and useful 1mprovements in Fire-Engines of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for extinguishing the fire in oil wells and the principal object of the invention is to provide means for creating a suction at the mouth of the well for extinguishing the fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for creating a blast of air to force the flames and smoke away from the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to mount the different parts of the apparatus upon a truck so that it can be transported to the burning well.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side view with parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Fig. 4 is a cross section.

In these views 1 indicates a motor truck of any desired construction on which the apparatus is supported. At the front part of the truck is located a casing 2 which forms a vacuum chamber 3. The rear part of this chamber receives the ends of a pair of pipes 41: which have their rear ends connected with a pair of fan casings 5. Exhaust pipes 6 extend rearwardly from said fan casings. The fans 7 within said casings are located on a common shaft 8 which is suitably journaled in uprights 9 carried by the truck. At its center this shaft carries a pulley 10 which is belted to a pulley on a motor 11 carried by the truck.

The forward end of the vacuum chamber receives the end of the suction tube 12. This tube extends forwardly and downwardly in front of the truck and has its end bent downwardly and the extremity of this end is provided with a portion 13 to form a nozzle. The pipe 12 adjacent its connection with the vacuum chamber is provided with a universal joint 1e so that said pipe may be raised and lowered. A hand lever 15 is pivotally connected with the casing 2 and a cable 16 connects this lever with the pipe 12 at a point where the said pipe is bent downwardly. In this way the pipe may be raised and lowered manually.

The ends of the casing 2 are provided with the openings 17 which connect the vacuum chamber with the atmosphere and these openings are controlled by the valves 18 which are moved to open and closed position the hand levers 19.

A pair of fan wheels 20 are carried on shafts 21 extending forwardly from the front end of the truck. These wheels are located at each side of the truck and the suction tube located between. These wheels are driven from small electric motors which are'supplied with current from the generator 22 carried by the truck and actuated from the motor 11.

hen a fire occurs in a well the apparatus is speeded thereto and before reaching the fire the apparatus is set in operation so that the different fans will be in operation when the fire is reached. The blast from the fan wheels 20 will blow the smoke and flames away from the approaching apparatus and permit the placing of the nozzle 13 over the mouth of the well. The suction createdby the fan 7 will suck the flame from the well and thus extinguish the fire. If it is desired to break the vacuum in the chamber without stopping the fans it is simply necessary to open the valves. This will break the suction in the pipe 12.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

WVhat I claim is 1. An apparatus for extinguishing fires in oil 'wells comprising a wheeled frame, a suction producing apparatus carried there by, a suction tube connected with the apparatus, a nozzle at the free end of said tube for fitting over the mouth of the well and an outlet conduit connected. with the suction means and extending through the rear of the frame.

2. An apparatus for extinguishing flames of burning oil wells comprising a wheeled frame, suction producing means carried thereby, a tube connected with said means, a nozzle at the free end of the tube for en gaging the mouth of the well, an outlet conduit connected .with the suction means and extending to the rear of the frame and a fan on the front part of the wheeled frame for driving the smoke and flames away from the apparatus.

3. An apparatus for extinguishing the flames of burning oil Wells comprising a wheeled frame, a vacuum chamber carried thereby, a suction producing device carried by the frame andconnected with said chamher, a suction tube movably connected with the chamber and having a flexible portion, a nozzle at the free end of said tube for engaging the mouth of the oil well, means for adjusting the position of the tube manually valve means for connecting the vacuum chamber with the atmosphere and manually actuated means for controlling said valves and a rotary fan carried at the front of the frame for driving tne smoke and flames away from the apparatus.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PAUL E. SM TH. 

